Fibromyalgia Tips
Fibromyalgia Tips
Fibromyalgia is a disorder characterized by long term muscle and skeletal pain, rigidity, numbness, tingling sensations, sleep disturbance, and easy fatigue. There are numerous painful points in the body, which are distributed all throughout and in symmetry or in exactly opposite locations. Some patients are also presented to have problems with swallowing and to have bowel and bladder abnormalities. There are also patients with psychiatric problems that occurred concomitant with this disorder.
Fibromyalgia affects mostly women compared to men. The disorder is unlikely to be found in young women because studies have shown that it is most likely to occur in women who are 50 years old and above. However, this does not exclude the presence of the disorder in children.
A person with this disorder may appear totally well. They may present as if they don’t have any disease. In most cases, laboratory testing results are normal. No pertinent findings may be found. Many of the symptoms are almost the same as the symptoms of arthritis and osteoporosis. What doctors usually do in the diagnosis is they list down all possible diseases that may be associated to the signs and symptoms presented by the patient that will serve as their differential diagnosis. They rely on an accurate manual tender point examination. Based on ACR criteria, which is a standardized diagnostic tool, tenderness or pain eleven or more out of the eighteen specified pressure points with widespread pain in all parts of the body (upper right, upper left, lower right, lower left) for a duration of at least three months would eliminate other differentials.
Because its nature is not yet fully understood, there is no universally accepted specific treatment to cure the disorder. There are numerous pharmacologic and non pharmacologic therapies available but these are directed only on eliminating the symptoms associated with the disorder. Pharmacologic treatments include antidepressants for pain, fatigue, sleep disturbance, and depression, anti-seizure drugs for neuropathic pain, and dopamine agonists. It is important, though, to ask your doctor about these drugs indication, contraindication, and side effects. Non pharmacologic treatment include regular exercises, heat, massage, injection on tender sites with steroids or lidocaine, and acupuncture. All these provide only temporary relief of symptoms. Newer therapies that may help to varying degrees include biofeedback, cognitive-behavioral therapy, hypnotherapy, and stress management and relaxation response training. Some of these therapies may be beneficial to others. Some can rely on just one modality of treatment. Some may do combinations of those mentioned above.
Although fibromyalgia is not fatal, chronic and excruciating pain may become persistent and may result to some form of social impairment, even in the presence of therapy. Seek a doctor or therapist to help you get through the effects of the disorder on your physical and emotional aspects of your life. Open up to your families and friends to gain support and strength that you need during the course of therapy. It is important to learn the process of acceptance and be able to adapt to the changes brought by this disorder.
Author: Jessie Mcknight
Jessie Mcknight is an expert in fibromyalgia treatment. Learn how to eliminate the symptoms of fibromyalgia from your life today by visiting http://www.banishfibromyalgia.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jessie_Mcknight
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